Academic project overview

AURA

Integrated olfactory facial interface and rear-strap control system for Quest-class headsets.

This repository documents a wearable olfactory platform designed to deliver localized scent pulses near the nose, clear residual aroma rapidly through active evacuation, and keep the front interface lightweight by relocating pumps, battery, and control electronics to the rear strap.

BLE control 8 scent channels Active evacuation Rear-mounted power

Abstract

AURA is an integrated olfactory interface intended for immersive VR/MR experiences. The project combines a facial interface, multi-channel liquid scent delivery, and active evacuation to support brief, localized scent presentation while minimizing cross-contamination and maintaining wearability. The repository indicates an ESP32-S3-based rear-strap controller, BLE command interface, and an eight-channel pump/atomization architecture.

Background and design intent

The system specification defines AURA as a headset-mounted olfactory facial interface, not a standalone room diffuser. Its engineering priorities are localized scent delivery, rapid clearing, reduced front-side bulk, and digital control from a headset or companion application.

The build guide frames the implementation in phases: a bench prototype, a wearable alpha, and then a full eight-channel build. This progression is appropriate for experimental validation, usability testing, and incremental risk reduction.

Key principles

  • Localized delivery near the nose
  • Active evacuation after firing
  • Rear-mounted counterweight battery
  • Separate liquid paths per channel
  • Safety lockouts and cooldowns

System architecture

Front interface

Facial interface shell, delivery ports, evacuation pickup, sealed tubing channel, and replaceable liner.

Rear strap module

ESP32-S3 controller, BLE service, pump drivers, battery pack, protection circuitry, and cartridge dock.

Power and control

Battery bus, 5V pump rail, 3.3V logic rail, and MOSFET low-side switching for pumps and evacuation.

The repository’s system specification emphasizes a wearable architecture in which liquid delivery hardware is distributed across eight channels, with the rear strap serving as both counterweight and service module.

Channel model and scent mapping

Each channel is described as a sealed reservoir, miniature peristaltic pump, check valve, atomizer, and short tubing route. This architecture is consistent with isolated odorants and better experimental control.

ChannelSuggested scentRole
C1Forest / pineEnvironmental cue
C2Smoke / burnAlert or hazard cue
C3Ocean / saltAmbient atmosphere
C4CoffeeDomestic / social scene
C5FloralSoft contextual cue
C6Earth / rainNaturalistic scene cue
C7CitrusBright, clean cue
C8Neutral cleaner / resetFlush or reset blend

BLE protocol

The protocol file defines a simple GATT structure with command, status, and config characteristics. Example commands include fire, mix, clear, and stop_all. That is suitable for headset-triggered scent events and structured experiments.

{"cmd":"fire","ch":4,"pulse_ms":70,"clear_ms":1500}

The documented rules are academically sensible: channel cooldown, automatic clearing, stop-all on disconnect, and low-battery blocking to prevent unsafe operation or uncontrolled scent release.

Development and build sequence

  1. Bench validation with two channels.
  2. Wearable alpha integration with comfort and noise evaluation.
  3. Scale to the full eight-channel system after delivery, clearing, and contamination testing.

This progression mirrors a professional hardware research workflow: verify the core mechanism first, then study ergonomics and reliability, and only then complete the full target build.

System BOM summary

The BOM indicates a compact but complete wearable system:

Firmware note

The Arduino sketch currently initializes eight pump control pins and provides a minimal scaffold for embedded development. It is a reasonable starting point for implementing the BLE command handler and timed actuation logic described in the specification.

#include <Arduino.h>
#define CHANNELS 8
int pumps[CHANNELS]={4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11};

Repository files in scholarly reading order

  1. AURA_SYSTEM_SPEC.md — primary system definition and architecture
  2. AURA_BLE_PROTOCOL.md — digital control interface and command model
  3. AURA_BUILD_GUIDE.md — phased development and validation plan
  4. AURA_SYSTEM_BOM.csv — bill of materials and subsystem inventory
  5. ESP32_S3_AURA_CONTROLLER.ino — embedded controller scaffold
  6. index.html — this publication-style overview
  7. README.md — project landing page and deployment link

Conclusion

In its current form, AURA presents a coherent wearable research prototype concept with a clear mechanical, electronic, and protocol structure. A professional presentation benefits from framing the repository as a research paper-style overview, with the system specification first, protocol second, build methodology third, and hardware inventory and firmware support following thereafter.